The challenge involves the possibility of ballots cast by ineligible nurses, according to the report.
Munson spokesperson Diane Michalek told Becker’s Hospital Review the National Labor Relations Board is challenging a majority of 81 ballots and that the hospital is not challenging the vote at this time.
MNA spokesperson Sara Wallenfang said the NLRB will weigh in on the challenged ballots prior to any official outcome. A scheduled date for a hearing has not yet been set.
Meanwhile, she said nurses are “ecstatic” about the election at this point, and she believes that with such a small margin, the election outcome is not likely to change.
Concerns among some Munson nurses have involved “what they believe to be understaffed units, schedules fraught with mandatory overtime and an administrative shift away from quality care in favor of profits,” according to the report.
Traverse City Record-Eagle reports some nurses are not in favor of unionization due to what they deem as a potential negative impact on their relationship with Munson, while others “contended the MNA and pro-union nurses have been vague about their intentions and seek to fix fictional problems.”
The union election comes after the MNA filed a complaint with the NLRB against Munson in May. The complaint alleged the hospital violated the National Labor Relations Act “by interrogating employees, tampering with schedules and giving false information about unions,” according to WPBN-TV. The hospital has denied the allegations.
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